Kamehameha “The Lonely One”

Kamehameha I, also known as Kamehameha the Great, conquered the Hawaiian Islands and formally established the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi in 1810.

King Kamehameha was one of the most striking figures in Hawaiian history, a leader who united and ruled the islands during a time of great cultural change. Accounts vary, but many think that Kamehameha (originally named Pai’ea) was born into a royal family in North Kohala sometime between 1753 and 1761, possibly in November 1758. Kamehameha’s mother was Kekuiapoiwa, daughter of a Kona chief. His father was probably Keoua, chief of Kohala. Legends link his birth to storms and strange lights, activities thought by Hawaiians to herald the birth of a great chief.

You can see the statue of this great chief in Kapaau , Hawaii. People often stop in Kapaau on their way to Pololu Valley. North Kohala has a rich history and is culturally important to Hawaii’s history.